May 27 Daily Devotional

2 Chronicles 26–28

The next king in Judah was Uzziah, who also was called Azariah. He was only sixteen years old when he began to reign and was king for fifty-two years. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord during most of his reign. He found the kingdom weak and he made it strong, for the Lord helped him. He won back for Judah the land of the Philistines, the land of the Ammonites on the east of Jordan and the Arabians on the south. He built fortified cities, with towers full of weapons for defense against enemies. He took interest in farming, planted trees and vineyards. “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” Azariah, the high priest, opposed him and said, “It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, … but to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast transgressed.” Instantly the white scales of leprosy could be seen on his forehead. From that day until he died, Uzziah was a leper. He could no longer sit as king, but his son Jotham took his place; nor was he allowed to live in the palace, but he had to live in a house alone, until he died.

Jotham ruled for sixteen years after his father’s death. He served the Lord, but was not strong enough to keep the people from worshipping the idols. “The people did yet corruptly … He built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.” He was warned by the fate of his father, and was content to be king, without trying at the same time to be priest and offer incense in the temple.

The next king was Ahaz. “He did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord.” He left the service of God and worshipped the images of Baal. He was worse than any of the other kings, for he even offered some of his children as burnt offerings to the false gods. During his reign the temple was closed, and its treasures were taken away. For his sins Ahaz was given into the hands of the king of Syria, who smote him and carried away many of the people as captives. He also was delivered into the hand of Pekah, the king of Israel. More than a hundred thousand men in Judah were slain and many were taken captive. When the Edomites came against Judah, king Ahaz sent to the Assyrians for help. They came, but not to help. They made themselves rulers of Judah and laid heavy burdens upon the land. At last Ahaz died, leaving his people worshippers of idols and under the rule of the king of Assyria. And Hezekiah, his son, reigned in his stead.